Credit: 20th Century Fox

Age, they say, is nothing but a number, and the Ice Age franchise has chosen the dramatic path to make a rather convincing case for that argument. Twenty-four years have passed since Manny and his prehistoric companions first graced our screens, yet the group has returned to Netflix with all the enthusiasm.

All five films from the same franchise have made it to the global Top 10 movies chart, and one has to admire the sheer audacity of it all, especially when newer releases are already fighting for the limited spots there are.

Disney, as it happens, has had a hand in orchestrating this prehistoric invasion. It struck a licensing agreement with Netflix that brought all five original Ice Age films to the platform on October 4th. This arrangement gives Netflix subscribers three months with the franchise, which is a rather curious development when one considers that Disney has a streaming service of its own.

But the reason behind this apparent generosity is the new film of the franchise: Ice Age: Boiling Point is heading to cinemas in 2027, and this was the perfect opportunity for the previous films to get themselves reacquainted with a wider viewership.

And what a massive comeback this has been, with these five films amassing a combined 42.8million views worldwide between October 5th and 11th. The original Ice Age (2002) has led the charge with 11.2m views, securing third place in the chart and reminding us why we became so fond of these peculiar creatures in the first place.

The film follows Manny, a grumpy mammoth, who gets stuck travelling with Sid, a very annoying sloth, and Diego, a sabre-toothed tiger who is hiding a few dodgy intentions. Their mission is to return a human baby to his family, and soon enough that simple mission turns into an adventure that still holds up well.

Rather amusingly, Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) has claimed fourth place with 9.3million views, despite receiving a thorough drubbing from critics upon its release. The fifth Ice Age movie once again has Scrat chasing that poor acorn, except this time his obsession manages to set off a space disaster and put the whole planet in danger.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) follows with 8million views, taking our prehistoric companions into an underground world after Sid develops an ill-advised attachment to some dinosaur eggs.

Meanwhile, Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) has collected 7.7million views, forcing the herd to flee a catastrophic flood, while Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) has landed ninth place with 6.6m views, sending Manny into an encounter with pirates after the continents begin pulling apart.

For a franchise approaching its 25th anniversary, this is quite the triumphant return, and Disney must be rather pleased with its decision to let Netflix borrow the family jewels. So catch them while they’re still there because these films come with a deadline attached to them.